Imaging system using high and low energy collimation

Abstract

A customizable and upgradable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The system can provide detector columns that include both high and low energy collimation. The detector columns may also use side shielding and adaptively disable detector elements based on emission information and shielding information. This system can be a Nuclear Medicine (NM) imaging system to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) image information.

Description

PRIORITY AND REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 135,751, entitled “IMAGING SYSTEM USING INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLABLE DETECTORS”, filed Dec. 20, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to medical imaging systems, and more particularly, to Nuclear Medicine (NM) imaging systems which can be Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging systems.[0003]In NM imaging, such as SPECT imaging, radiopharmaceuticals are administered internally to a patient. Radiopharmaceuticals may also be referred to as tracers. Detectors (e.g., gamma cameras), typically installed on a gantry, capture the radiation emitted by the radiopharmaceuticals and this radiation information is used by computer processors running image reconstruction algorithms to form images. The NM images primarily...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a detector system with multiple columns that can detect emissions from multiple isotopes inside an imaging subject. The detector columns are designed so that the detector elements attached to a low energy collimator are adjacent to one another and set towards one axial side of the detector column, while the detector elements attached to a high energy collimator are adjacent to one another and set towards the opposite axial side of the detector column. The detector columns can also include shielding elements to prevent radiation from reaching the detector elements from a side angle, and if a detector column detects received radiation from a side with a shield element, the system disables at least one detector element near to the side of the detector column. This design allows for simultaneous detection of emissions from multiple isotopes in the imaging subject.

Problems solved by technology

These systems are generally not physically reconfigurable and can only handle one radiation energy level at a time.

Additionally, specific collimation may be provided, which typically limits the application of the scanner to a particular type of scan, such as whole body bone exams, cardiac exams, etc.

Thus, conventional SPECT imaging systems have limitations in design and / or operational characteristics.

Moreover, there is limited flexibility in these imaging systems, especially when it comes to situations where both high and low energies need to be detected by the gamma cameras.

Images